Auto Industry Heads Flew Private Jets To D.C. Bailout Begathon

The U.S.'s three major carmakers may be so close to filing for bankruptcy that their leaders have to beg Congress for a bailout (Pleeease! Just $25 billion...), but they don't seem to have any qualms about flying their Gulfstream jets to Washington, as opposed to flying commercial like real poor people (such as Diddy) or, you know, driving.

Geez, no wonder Congress is hesitant to give them a bailout. Also, perhaps someone needs to explain to them the merits of cars powered by renewable energy one more time...

ABC News has more: The CEOs of the big three automakers flew to the nation's capital yesterday in private luxurious jets to make their case to Washington that the auto industry is running out of cash and needs $25 billion in taxpayer money to avoid bankruptcy.

The CEOs of GM, Ford and Chrysler may have told Congress that they will likely go out of business without a bailout yet that has not stopped them from traveling in style, not even First Class is good enough.

All three CEOs - Rick Wagoner of GM, Alan Mulally of Ford, and Robert Nardelli of Chrysler - exercised their perks Tuesday by flying in corporate jets to DC. Wagoner flew in GM's $36 million luxury aircraft to tell members of Congress that the company is burning through cash, asking for $10-12 billion for GM alone...

Both Ford and GM apparently have a fleet of luxury jets that they're still using. Why can't they sell those to keep the lights on?

While Wagoner testified, his G4 private jet was parked at Dulles airport. It is just one of a fleet of luxury jets owned by GM that continues to ferry executives around the world despite the company's dire financial straits...

Wagoner's private jet trip to Washington cost his ailing company an estimated $20,000 roundtrip. In comparison, seats on Northwest Airlines flight 2364 from Detroit to Washington were going online for $288 coach and $837 first class...

Ford CEO Mulally's corporate jet is a perk included for both he and his wife as part of his employment contract along with a $28 million salary last year. Mulally actually lives in Seattle, not Detroit. The company jet takes him home and back on weekends...

Yet Ford continues to operate a fleet of eight private jets for its executives. Just Tuesday, one jet was taking Ford brass to Los Angeles, another on a trip to Nebraska, and of course Mulally needed to fly to Washington to testify. He did not address questions following the hearing.